From cons to private photoshoots to kids screwing around with junk and a sewing machine, cosplay has continued to explode in popularity across the globe. And the more people who take up the artform, the more amazing outfits we get.

The images below, though, are of the ones I thought were the very best. While some of these shots are from cosplay superstars, others are from relative unknowns, showing that when it comes to cosplay a good idea and some hard graft can go as far as a workshop and professional gear.

If there’s someone you think I missed, let me know below!

And in the meantime, to celebrate the first full year of our cosplay site’s operation, here are some of the best actual cosplay stories we wrote in 2015: